Forest Retreat is a historic home of
Kentucky governor (during 1828–1832) and
United States Senator Thomas Metcalfe, located in
Nicholas County, Kentucky. It is currently operated as a Bed & Breakfast hotel and event venue.
It was built in 1795. The grounds of Forest Retreat include the Metcalfe family burial plot. Interred at this plot are
Thomas Metcalfe (1780–1855) and various of his relatives, and 1954
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a horse race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, almost always on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The competition is a Grade I stakes race for three-year ...
-winning horse,
Determine
Determine (April 7, 1951 – September 27, 1972), was an American Thoroughbred race horse. In a racing career which lasted from 1953 through 1955, the California-trained colt ran forty-four times and won eighteen races. His best season was 1954 ...
. Thomas Metcalfe was a stonemason and later 10th Governor of Kentucky, and he contributed to the building of this house then later retired to here.
[ Includes six photos.]
The farm deteriorated until 1933 when it was bought by Dr. Eslie Asbury. Later his son used it as a working farm and he had a horse, Determine, win the 1954
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a horse race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, almost always on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The competition is a Grade I stakes race for three-year ...
.
It was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The listing included three
contributing buildings in addition to the farmhouse.
[
An earlier home of Thomas Metcalfe, the ]Thomas Metcalf House
The Thomas Metcalfe House in Robertson County, Kentucky was the first house of Thomas Metcalfe (1780–1855), 10th governor of Kentucky (during 1828–1832). The house was built by Metcalfe, a stonemason and building contractor, in c.1810. an ...
in Robertson County, is also listed on the National Register. It was built by Thomas in c.1810.
See also
* List of buildings constructed by Thomas Metcalfe
References
External links
Forest Retreat
official hotel website
Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Kentucky
Houses completed in 1795
Houses in Nicholas County, Kentucky
Thomas Metcalfe buildings
National Register of Historic Places in Nicholas County, Kentucky
Stone houses in Kentucky
1795 establishments in Kentucky
Bed and breakfasts in Kentucky
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